Chapter 169: Fate Begins to Move
Fiery Volcano had been surveyed by the League and confirmed to be a dormant volcano—a general term for volcanoes that had erupted before but have been in a relatively static state for a long time. According to records, the last eruption of Fiery Volcano was a thousand years ago. In modern times, this largest volcano in Middel was almost certain not to erupt again. Based on these survey results, the League had not completely sealed off this volcano.
Therefore, besides its famous hot spring industry, Fuquan Town also offered sightseeing tours of Fiery Volcano to contribute to the town's income.
However, despite this, the rugged mountain roads of Fiery Volcano, as well as the higher temperatures compared to the town, made many tourists stop in their tracks. Only a small number of people who wanted to challenge themselves—especially Pokémon trainers—were willing to ascend this volcano and reach its summit.
While a large group of tourists, drawn by its fame, crowded the open space in front of the mountain path, sightseeing and taking photos, a small figure, without anyone noticing, ran up the mountain.
Earlier, while Míng Rìzhào and Fengling were engrossed in listening to stories, Rio could no longer hold back his desire to train.
According to his observation, within Fuquan Town, and even its surroundings, there were no very good training grounds: the town was filled with dense white mist, visibility was poor, and it was crowded with tourists. The plains outside the town, perennially covered by falling volcanic ash, were also not a very good place to exercise.
In the end, ascending Fiery Volcano became his choice.
After running for a few dozen meters, there were not many tourists left on the mountain path. From the clamor at the entrance to the alternative quiet now, Rio let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, then let's start training."
His gaze turned to the mountain road that still had a long way to go.
"Let's start with a long run."
It was as if he had returned to his previous life, performing a series of exercises in pursuit of greater strength.
Long-distance running, weight training, limit training, and so on. Besides forging a stronger body, Rio had another idea: he wanted to comprehend an even more powerful move.
The few moves he used most proficiently, [Quick Attack], [Metal Claw], [Brick Break], although they were all powerful moves and, under Rio's imaginative operation, also produced quite good effects, when facing strong enemies, they were far from being able to deliver a decisive blow. As for a move with such an effect, [Aura Sphere], it was limited by Rio's own Special Attack stat and his control over his Aura ability. For an unevolved Riolu, this move also couldn't reach the level Rio wanted.
Especially when facing those seemingly invincible strong enemies.
In his mind, that extremely fierce and evil figure was like a haze, clinging tightly, unable to be shaken off.
"Throw that punch, throw that punch..."
While running, Rio mechanically muttered this sentence in a low voice.
Actually, he shouldn't have been so eager originally. With his experience of two lifetimes (as a person and a Pokémon?), it wasn't that he hadn't encountered such a strong enemy before. But for some reason, he always felt as if a pair of evil black eyes were staring at him from behind, chasing him like a flood or a fierce beast, making his entire Pokémon self as tense as a wound-up string, unable to relax.
It was as if a voice was urgently reminding him: Get stronger! You must get stronger, or it will be too late...
A strange tremor from the volcano startled Rio out of his reverie.
This tremor was very slight. If it weren't for Rio's extremely keen Aura detection ability, he wouldn't have even been able to notice it.
"Is the volcano going to erupt? I can't be that unlucky, can I?"
Rio rarely made a self-deprecating joke.
Sensing carefully, it seemed as if nothing had happened; it was completely quiet.
For some reason, he felt a little nostalgic for the Flower Nectar picked by Big Sis Vileplume.
Casting aside his distracting thoughts, he continued to run on Fiery Volcano.
…
"Is this the Fuquan Town Pokémon Center?"
If a bunch of local residents hadn't patted their chests and guaranteed it, Míng Rìzhào would not have been able to tell at all that the building before her was a Pokémon Center.
It was really because the style of this building was completely unlike the iconic Poké Ball shape; instead, it looked like a hot spring inn.
Bamboo-made exterior walls enclosed a large area. Walking a few steps, one could see green bamboo playfully peeking out from inside the house. And the Pokémon Center in the very middle of this area was three stories high. At the entrance, where people walked in and out from time to time, it was no longer the familiar automatic glass door, but instead two cloth curtains with the characters for "Hot Spring" written on them, one on the left and one on the right. Looking from a slight distance, faint white mist rose from the back of the Pokémon Center, a steaming hot scene.
Such an unfamiliar Pokémon Center made Míng Rìzhào momentarily not know what to do.
"Haha, are you sisters here in Fuquan Town for the first time?"
A woman in a yukata, passing by, saw the troubled look on Míng Rìzhào and Fengling as they hesitated whether to go in, and greeted them enthusiastically.
"H-hello. Yes, this is our first time here. Excuse me, are there any requirements to enter this Pokémon Center?"
"Requirements? There are none! Just go in boldly. This is a place open to everyone."
At this moment, the woman noticed that Míng Rìzhào and Fengling were both carrying Pokémon.
"Are you Pokémon trainers? In that case, you can even enjoy the hot springs here for free with your trainer's license!"
Hot springs!
Hearing this, Míng Rìzhào and Fengling's eyes lit up.
During their journey in the wild, although they could also wash up using the occasionally encountered water sources and the bathrooms provided by Pokémon Centers, this kind of hurried washing certainly couldn't compare to enjoying a comfortable hot spring. Moreover, on the road to Fuquan Town, passing through that plain of volcanic ash had left the two girls covered in dust, making them eager to wash up immediately.
"But I'm not a Pokémon trainer," Fengling said, somewhat dejected.
The woman with long, fiery red hair waved her hand magnanimously.
"It's fine! I can bring a few more people. To meet is fate. Let's go in and soak in the hot springs together."
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Míng Rìzhào, and this is Fengling. Hello, big sister."
"H-hello."
After hearing their names, the woman raised an eyebrow, then smiled and shook hands with the two of them.
"Hello. My name is Flannery."
Feeling as if she had heard this name somewhere before, the somewhat dazed Míng Rìzhào was pulled by the enthusiastic big sister towards this unique Pokémon Center.
…
Fuquan Town's entrance was still bustling with people. Many travelers, after a long and arduous journey, couldn't wait to head straight for the various hot spring shops scattered throughout the town, to have a nice, long soak and relieve their physical fatigue.
Among them, a young boy with a Pikachu looking around on his shoulder was also in the crowd.
Red let out a long breath.
"Alright, we've finally reached Fuquan Town. If I had known the cable car on Luminous Mountain was out of service, I would have just taken the train. Walking all the way here was really too tiring."
"Pika, pika!"
Pikachu wagged its tail in agreement.
"However, the journey still had its gains."
Red took a Poké Ball from his waist and said with a smile.
"Wouldn't you say so? Frogadier!"
A bit of water vapor escaped from the Poké Ball, and then it shook, indicating its agreement.
…
A certain place.
On the table in front of the mysterious man, a row of black Poké Balls was lined up.
From left to right, in order, were: a Poké Ball covered in a thin layer of flame, a Poké Ball condensed with frost, a Poké Ball with flowing electric currents, a Poké Ball dripping with sand, a Poké Ball shimmering with a metallic sheen, a Poké Ball overflowing with a chilling aura, a Poké Ball from which the sound of crashing waves could be heard, and the rightmost one, a ball that was slightly levitating.
Opening his pitch-black pupils, the man stared into the void.
"It's almost time. The day of my Lord's awakening is almost here."
"The plan is not yet complete. I must hurry."
"This time, I will not be... hindered again."
The man silently recited a certain name.
…
At a moment no one noticed, the wheels of fate rolled forward.
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